The decilitre, a metric unit of volume, equates to one-tenth of a litre, or precisely 100 millilitres. While the metric system is well-known for its ease of use, the decilitre often flies under the radar, overshadowed by its bigger sibling, the litre. It’s particularly prevalent in certain European countries for measuring beverages, like boxed wine or packaged juices, offering a convenient middle ground between the millilitre and litre.
Interestingly, the term “decilitre” also connects to the origin of the metric system, which was established during the French Revolution. The French aimed to simplify and standardize measurements, allowing easy conversion and understanding across different regions—a legacy that continues to shape global measurement systems today. Embracing the decilitre invites a peek into this rich history of measurement.
The centilitre, a lesser-known unit, is often overshadowed by its more popular counterparts, the litre and millilitre. Primarily used in European countries, a centilitre (cL) is equal to 10 millilitres or one-hundredth of a litre. It’s a convenient measure for small volumes, especially in the context of beverages. For example, if you order a glass of wine in France or Switzerland, it’s common for the serving size to be expressed in centilitres, like 12.5 cL, which allows for precise portion control and is distinct from the typically larger measurements used elsewhere. This unit provides an ideal balance between too fine a granularity and too coarse a measurement, making it popular in the culinary world.
| Decilitres | Centilitres |
|---|---|
0
dl
|
0
cl
|
1
dl
|
10
cl
|
2
dl
|
20
cl
|
3
dl
|
30
cl
|
4
dl
|
40
cl
|
5
dl
|
50
cl
|
6
dl
|
60
cl
|
7
dl
|
70
cl
|
8
dl
|
80
cl
|
9
dl
|
90
cl
|
10
dl
|
100
cl
|
11
dl
|
110
cl
|
12
dl
|
120
cl
|
13
dl
|
130
cl
|
14
dl
|
140
cl
|
15
dl
|
150
cl
|
16
dl
|
160
cl
|
17
dl
|
170
cl
|
18
dl
|
180
cl
|
19
dl
|
190
cl
|
20
dl
|
200
cl
|
21
dl
|
210
cl
|
22
dl
|
220
cl
|
23
dl
|
230
cl
|
24
dl
|
240
cl
|
25
dl
|
250
cl
|
26
dl
|
260
cl
|
27
dl
|
270
cl
|
28
dl
|
280
cl
|
29
dl
|
290
cl
|
30
dl
|
300
cl
|
31
dl
|
310
cl
|
32
dl
|
320
cl
|
33
dl
|
330
cl
|
34
dl
|
340
cl
|
35
dl
|
350
cl
|
36
dl
|
360
cl
|
37
dl
|
370
cl
|
38
dl
|
380
cl
|
39
dl
|
390
cl
|
40
dl
|
400
cl
|
41
dl
|
410
cl
|
42
dl
|
420
cl
|
43
dl
|
430
cl
|
44
dl
|
440
cl
|
45
dl
|
450
cl
|
46
dl
|
460
cl
|
47
dl
|
470
cl
|
48
dl
|
480
cl
|
49
dl
|
490
cl
|
50
dl
|
500
cl
|
51
dl
|
510
cl
|
52
dl
|
520
cl
|
53
dl
|
530
cl
|
54
dl
|
540
cl
|
55
dl
|
550
cl
|
56
dl
|
560
cl
|
57
dl
|
570
cl
|
58
dl
|
580
cl
|
59
dl
|
590
cl
|
60
dl
|
600
cl
|
61
dl
|
610
cl
|
62
dl
|
620
cl
|
63
dl
|
630
cl
|
64
dl
|
640
cl
|
65
dl
|
650
cl
|
66
dl
|
660
cl
|
67
dl
|
670
cl
|
68
dl
|
680
cl
|
69
dl
|
690
cl
|
70
dl
|
700
cl
|
71
dl
|
710
cl
|
72
dl
|
720
cl
|
73
dl
|
730
cl
|
74
dl
|
740
cl
|
75
dl
|
750
cl
|
76
dl
|
760
cl
|
77
dl
|
770
cl
|
78
dl
|
780
cl
|
79
dl
|
790
cl
|
80
dl
|
800
cl
|
81
dl
|
810
cl
|
82
dl
|
820
cl
|
83
dl
|
830
cl
|
84
dl
|
840
cl
|
85
dl
|
850
cl
|
86
dl
|
860
cl
|
87
dl
|
870
cl
|
88
dl
|
880
cl
|
89
dl
|
890
cl
|
90
dl
|
900
cl
|
91
dl
|
910
cl
|
92
dl
|
920
cl
|
93
dl
|
930
cl
|
94
dl
|
940
cl
|
95
dl
|
950
cl
|
96
dl
|
960
cl
|
97
dl
|
970
cl
|
98
dl
|
980
cl
|
99
dl
|
990
cl
|
100
dl
|
1000
cl
|
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